People’s Democratic Party (PDP) observed the ninth death anniversary of its founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7. By founding the PDP in 1999 and making it strong, he had provided a political alternative to the people to replace the most popular , mighty, oldest and grassroots level party, National Conference (NC). The results were obvious as PDP formed coalition government with Congress in 2002 and then with BJP after 2014 assembly polls. Even NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah lost parliamentary poll and Omar Abdullah the assembly elections during the time.

PDP tried to cash on its ideology that having a political alternative is essential as otherwise a single party takes people for granted and sometimes “develops dictatorial and black mailing tendencies.” NC countered by saying that the strengthening of PDP had the blessings of the then central government, which was not happy with the J&K’s ruling party for passing an autonomy resolution in the legislative assembly on June 26, 2000.

Mufti’s decision to form a coalition government with the BJP after the 2014 assembly polls proved an unpopular and disastrous move for the PDP. After his demise in 2016, the coalition government headed by his daughter Mehbooba Mufti could not last long. BJP pulled out from the government on June 19, 2018 and she had to resign.

After the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, NC successfully built a narrative that PDP brought BJP to Jammu and Kashmir, which paved way for these developments on August 5, 2019. This........

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